our servicesentrepreneurship training

Paul Terry has over 30 years of experience designing and teaching subject-specific business workshops and comprehensive entrepreneurship training programs. Paul teaches classes in association with non-profit organizations and educational institutions and offers classes directly to small business owners. Customized workshops can be designed to fit client requests.

training topics

Starting a small business

Writing a business plan

Managing business complexity

Business action planning

Building confidence and solid business support systems

Time management for business owners

Small business growth and risk assessment

Operating a joint venture

Planning your transition or business exit

Managing other people

Classes

12-week Business Planning Class

Paul coordinates and co-teaches the 12-week Business Planning Class at Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center’s South of Market location in San Francisco. This class covers every aspect of starting and developing a small business, including marketing, management, operations, finance and recordkeeping.

4-week Action Planning Intensive

Is your business running you, rather than the other way around? Is the stress of your business spilling over into your personal life? Are you struggling to grow your business past break even? With the Action Planning Intensive, you get insight, support and managed direction with a group of four small business owners at a similar stage of business growth. Meetings are directed and facilitated by Paul Terry. The group meets weekly for four 2-hour sessions, with additional one-on-one support by phone/email.

Managing your small business venture

Paul teaches a business management class at U.C. Berkeley Cooperative Extension, San Francisco campus. This class focuses on the practical aspects of managing a small business venture. Class topics include time management, decision-making, managing others, and creating a business action plan to reach a specific management goal.

from our blogread about entrepreneurship training

testimonialssee what our students are saying

Taking the Renaissance Business Planning class was a pivotal moment for me – the moment I really committed to my business and went all in. I thank Paul for that. Paul Terry is an excellent teacher. He has a wonderful approach in the classroom, and a way of helping start-up entrepreneurs get over both the financial and emotional hurdles related of small business ownership.”

Paul is an extraordinary teacher, program designer and business consultant. He brings enormous creativity, intelligence and experience to his work. Paul’s consulting services have helped Renaissance grow strategically and effectively.”

I took the 4-week action planning class with Paul. There were four small business owners in the course: a moving company with several employees, a green design and construction company, an online retail business, and my movement and health-oriented business. We were all there to figure out how to expand, so I got to see Paul work with a variety of issues. The class was fun, with hard work to do, and effective for all of us. We all had success in finding clear directions for our respective businesses.”

Paul is a tireless and passionate advocate and enabler of small business ownership and growth. He has a special talent for teaching. He helps entrepreneurs face their realities and figure out ways to overcome obstacles of all kinds without becoming overwhelmed. He is a patient, kind and empathetic instructor while also pushing his students to do their best.”

Paul is not only extremely knowledgeable about what it takes to build businesses from the ground up, but also has hands-on experience working with hundreds of small business owners and organizations across a variety of sectors. Wonderful qualities for a teacher! His approachable nature and unwavering patience is a huge help to any business owner ready to take the next step, grapple with a challenge or take a venture to the next level.”

Paul has a knack for presenting information in ways that are engaging, informative, and smart. I've experienced him both as a teacher, a co-teacher, and a consultant. In all formats, Paul strikes a balance between humor, strength, and knowledge about the subject matter. I've learned immense amounts about running a business from him, and continue to do so in my interactions with him.”

Learn more about classes

Paul Terry & Associates provides business management consulting and entrepreneurship training to small businesses at every stage. We help our clients and business students solve challenges, assess new options and plan for growth and transition.